My dad is all excited about having cleared out the garage in
order to start making a home gym. He is so enthusiastic that he got up early
this morning to use it, my mum and I joined him. This decision had nothing to
do with an intention to exercise and everything to do with wanting to have a
good giggle at my dad’s expense. It’s Easter Sunday so we had a rare “everybody
sits down together breakfast” this doesn’t happen in my family because we never
tend to be up or in at the same time in the mornings. We had a short break from eating where we
went for a walk but returned home rather swiftly in time for lunch. Holidays at
my house center very much around the dining table, we don’t seem to be able to
spend too much time away from it, we are making a valiant effort this afternoon
though as we are about to go Easter egg hunting (I may be 19 but never too old
for an Easter egg hunt) after which its time for Easter arts and crafts (I
believe I mentioned my mum was big on celebrating holidays thoroughly). Swedish
provides a much better word for “arts and crafts” namely: “pyssla.” For those
that don’t know my parents are Scottish, I was born and lived in England for
three years and then we all trooped over to Sweden, which is where I grew up. I
only moved back to Scotland last September for my first year of Uni. Oh Easter
egg hunt is about to begin, better get moving. Wouldn’t want the siblings to
beat me.

I came
across an article in the daily mail that was celebrating “how far social attitudes
have changed for the better, particularly in regard to the relationship between
men and women.” I am sure this is true, we have come a long way in the last few
decades with regards to equality between men and women. However the focus of
the article was sexist advertisements that were widespread in the madmen era that “would undoubtedly cause widespread
revulsion today.” Iv'e posted some of the examples given by the article and matched them with a 21st century counter part. The Dailymail article is absolutely right, I do feel revulsion when looking at the ads. But do I feel any better when confronted with their 21st century equivalents? Nope.

Women clearly belong under mens' feet.

Wear the right trousers and you'll have no problem conquering your women.

Friday, 29 March 2013

Perhaps I should give an explanation as to the title of this blog for all those who have yet to enjoy the marvel that is the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Because Douglas Adams says it so much better then I ever could, here is the passage from the book that this Blog's title refers to (interpret it as you please):

“O Deep Thought computer," he said, "the task we have designed you to perform is this. We want you to tell us...." he paused, "The Answer.""The Answer?" said Deep Thought. "The Answer to what?""Life!" urged Fook."The Universe!" said Lunkwill."Everything!" they said in chorus.Deep Thought paused for a moment's reflection."Tricky," he said finally."But can you do it?"Again, a significant pause."Yes," said Deep Thought, "I can do it.""There is an answer?" said Fook with breathless excitement."Yes," said Deep Thought. "Life, the Universe, and Everything. There is an answer. But, I'll have to think about it."...Fook glanced impatiently at his watch.“How long?” he said.“Seven and a half million years,” said Deep Thought.Lunkwill and Fook blinked at each other.“Seven and a half million years...!” they cried in chorus.“Yes,” declaimed Deep Thought, “I said I’d have to think about it, didn’t I?"

[Seven and a half million years later.... Fook and Lunkwill are long gone, but their ancestors continue what they started]

"We are the ones who will hear," said Phouchg, "the answer to the great question of Life....!""The Universe...!" said Loonquawl."And Everything...!""Shhh," said Loonquawl with a slight gesture. "I think Deep Thought is preparing to speak!"There was a moment's expectant pause while panels slowly came to life on the front of the console. Lights flashed on and off experimentally and settled down into a businesslike pattern. A soft low hum came from the communication channel.

"Good Morning," said Deep Thought at last."Er..good morning, O Deep Thought" said Loonquawl nervously, "do you have...er, that is...""An Answer for you?" interrupted Deep Thought majestically. "Yes, I have."The two men shivered with expectancy. Their waiting had not been in vain."There really is one?" breathed Phouchg."There really is one," confirmed Deep Thought."To Everything? To the great Question of Life, the Universe and everything?""Yes."Both of the men had been trained for this moment, their lives had been a preparation for it, they had been selected at birth as those who would witness the answer, but even so they found themselves gasping and squirming like excited children."And you're ready to give it to us?" urged Loonsuawl."I am.""Now?""Now," said Deep Thought.They both licked their dry lips."Though I don't think," added Deep Thought. "that you're going to like it.""Doesn't matter!" said Phouchg. "We must know it! Now!""Now?" inquired Deep Thought."Yes! Now...""All right," said the computer, and settled into silence again. The two men fidgeted. The tension was unbearable."You're really not going to like it," observed Deep Thought."Tell us!""All right," said Deep Thought. "The Answer to the Great Question...""Yes..!""Of Life, the Universe and Everything..." said Deep Thought."Yes...!""Is..." said Deep Thought, and paused."Yes...!""Is...""Yes...!!!...?""Forty-two," said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.”“O Deep Thought computer," he said, "the task we have designed you to perform is this. We want you to tell us...." he paused, "The Answer.""The Answer?" said Deep Thought. "The Answer to what?""Life!" urged Fook."The Universe!" said Lunkwill."Everything!" they said in chorus.Deep Thought paused for a moment's reflection."Tricky," he said finally."But can you do it?"Again, a significant pause."Yes," said Deep Thought, "I can do it.""There is an answer?" said Fook with breathless excitement."Yes," said Deep Thought. "Life, the Universe, and Everything. There is an answer. But, I'll have to think about it."...Fook glanced impatiently at his watch.“How long?” he said.“Seven and a half million years,” said Deep Thought.Lunkwill and Fook blinked at each other.“Seven and a half million years...!” they cried in chorus.“Yes,” declaimed Deep Thought, “I said I’d have to think about it, didn’t I?"

[Seven and a half million years later.... Fook and Lunkwill are long gone, but their ancestors continue what they started]

"We are the ones who will hear," said Phouchg, "the answer to the great question of Life....!""The Universe...!" said Loonquawl."And Everything...!""Shhh," said Loonquawl with a slight gesture. "I think Deep Thought is preparing to speak!"There was a moment's expectant pause while panels slowly came to life on the front of the console. Lights flashed on and off experimentally and settled down into a businesslike pattern. A soft low hum came from the communication channel.

Sorry about not posting yesterday, was out all day with Em, Elsa and Mariam and then we all ended going back to Mariam's for a good chat and a film.

Today's highlight was definitely shooting practice in the sun-room with my brother. Its so much fun! Something incredibly powerful about holding a gun in yours hands (ok ok i know it was an air gun but one can always pretend).
Going to help my mum make mango cheesecake, not a fan of cheesecake actually. My definition of dessert includes chocolate in some for or another and cheesecake clearly falls short of this.

Hope you are all having a good day. Sort of hard not to on a friday with the whole weekend looming ahead of you. I just wish I was meeting more people from my old class and other people we used to meet up with outside of school this weekend. I am so excited to see everyone but its easter so most people are busy. (Me included, my parents celebrate holidays to the max. Always have, always will). Must admit I'm looking forward so seeing some people in particular. Why is it that if you've had a thing with someone you are always going to have a soft-spot for them regardless of the fact that all feelings have long since left the building? Enough cheese time for cheesecake making.

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

I love Birthdays! Been running about town with my sister
getting some last minute things for my Dad’s celebration this evening – such as
take out menus for his “man box” part of my mum’s birthday present for my dad.
It will only make sense if you watch Michael McIntyre’s video about it – I’ll
post the link if your interested in seeing it:

Started watching a stand up comedy in the morning while I
eat breakfast as well as the news. (no one else in my halls is up at the same
time as me during the weak so I have to moap about the kitchen on my own).
Sometimes you need it to counterbalance all the depressing headlines. This
morning’s blow was Theresa May waiting on the green light to deport Abu Qatada.
Don’t get me wrong the evidence seems to way against him, but it’s the UK’s
fickle stance on Human Rights that worrying. So what if they have written
confirmation that Qatada wont be subjected to torture when they have plenty of
other evidence confirming that quite a few other people will be “tortured on
his behalf” in order to gain the evidence the Jordanian government needs
against him?! The written confirmation puts Britain (technically) on the right
side of the law but they are subverting the very essence of this law by
acquiescing to other, perhaps innocent people, being placed in the torture
chair in Qatada’s place. Why not just scrap the whole Human Rights Act…Oh wait Cameron
already plans to.

Mmmm what a lovely morning. Its my dad’s birthday (well
technically it was yesterday but my mum wasn’t home and as it’s the first birthday
in a long time that we will get to celebrate as a family we decided to postpone
the whole thing to today).

My mum and I made breakfast for my dad and then went for a run. I LOVE to start the day with a run outside (not treadmills, find them ridiculously dull). Came back and just finished a hearty breakfast. My sister is about to go out practice driving and I said I’d go with her. I cant believe she is better than me (I can barely crawl round a car park at 10 km an hour), so it will be nice to see if she’s quite as superior as she claims to be!